Blank feed control mechanism



March 6, 1934. H. A. KESSLER BLANK FEED CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Oct. '7. 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet l March 6, 1934.

H. A. KESSLER 1,949,966

BLANK FEED CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Oct 7, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2,

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abkouwg 3 March 6, 1934. H, A. KESSLER BLANK FEED CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Oct. 7, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Mar. 6, 1934 Harry A. Kessler, Chicago; 111;, assignor 1:0 Kai-- man SteelCompany, Inc.; Chicagm llh, a -cor poratiom of: Delaware Application October '7, 1930, Serial No;486,994'

11"Glaims.- (Cl.:164-'6.6)

This invention relates to-themanufacture of expanded load bearingimembers of integral form from; structural .shapes ofdetermined .lengths.

.Inithe production of load bearing members of the type generally described the blanks are passed, either after heating or-without heating, betweenislittingd'olls and then expanded in any suitable manner; Portions of the lattice work at the opposite ends of the load bearingimember are then cut away in .order that end supporting extensions may be formedby bending the'terminal portions 'of.the lower .flange or cord toward the terminalportionsof the upper flange or cordand unitingihe two for. a suitabledistance by weld- 5 ingor other forms of connection. For economy it is desirable that the .blanks be-slit.-so as to require thecutting away of aslittle of .the metal as possible, thereby avoiding waste.

Heretofore in the. manufacture of. load bearing members of the, type describedtheblanks have been fed-to the slitting rollsawithout regard to theangular positions of the slitting ribs at the Instantthe blank was initially engaged between the slitting rolls. This method of .procedure 5 renderedit difiicult. if not impossible; to insure theproduction of load .bearing members of uniformlength, For example, if-aibla'nk is fed to the slitting rolls without taking into consideration the. angular positions of the slitting ribs at 0 the instant the forward end of the blank is engaged between the rolls it may be necessary after the blank has been expanded to cutaway large portions of thelattice work at the ends of the trussed portion. On the.. other hand, it may be that in feeding the blank to the slitting rolls'the forward end of the blank is engaged withthe slitting: ribs in such angular, positions that the blank will be divided into -slitted' and non-slitted zones in a manner that requires only a small portion of the lattice work to be cut away at the ends of the trussed portion. Thus, in the two instances mentioned, although 'theoriginal blanks may have been of the same length, the finished load bearing members'will be of different lengths while atthe same time there has been a waste of metal'in'the production of the load bearing member mentioned in the-first instance. The principal object of the present invention is to provide for the uniform slitting of blanks which are to be expandedso as-to'avoidwaste-an'd insure the production of *finished shapes of uniform predetermined length, this object contemplating a blank feed-oontrol-mechanism which is designed to engage the blanksduring their movement toward-the slitting rolls 1 and, when operated,-.torelease-theengaged blank at the instant the slitting trolls reach a predetermined angular positionsthereby insuringspredetermined angu lar -positions ofthe slitting rolls at the instant the released blank .is initially: engagedbetween them.

Theinvention is illustrated in-the accompany ing-1drawings-,- inwhich-:'

-Figure -1 .-is asidereIeVatiom-Qf apparatus for expanding wload bearing. members accordance with the present invention Figure 2-is-a top -plan-view-of the same.

Figure-3 is a sectionalong' -l-ine 3=3 of Figure 1 showing-theoperation ofthe auxiliary feed rolls.

Figure 4 4 is :a wplan :view -of a apor-tion' of an I-beam- -which,- in the present instance, is employedas the blank from which the expanded load bearingwmember isformed.- v

Figure-dis a Esection takenalong -line-;5- 5- of Figure 1 showing-ltheoperationot-the main'feed rolls.- 7

\ Figure =6 isa section-taken along. line 66 of Figure 1 'showingathe'operationaof the slitting rolls.

. Figure 7 is a ==plan -view of one end -of a blank after. it hasbeenpassed-throughthe-slitting rolls.

Figure 8 is a section takenalong "line 8-8 of Figure 1 showing thewoperation-otthe delivery rolls.

7 Figure -9 is a plan view of one end-bran expanded 1 blank after it has --.passed through the delivery ,rolls; 1.

Figure 10 is a verticalsection taken along line 10-10 of Figure 2 of theblank feed controlmecha anism.

Figure 11 is a. 'sectionof the same taken-along line'll-l-lof Figure 10;

Figure 12-is a top plan yiew of'the'said blank feed controlrmechanism.

Figure 13 is a section of the same taken alongline l3--l3vof Figure 10-. l

Figure -14 is-a -seotion= similar -to thesection shown in Fig; .10 but from theoppositeside illustrated in. the latter and is taken along line 1414 ofiFigure p In the illustrated embodiment of the invention 7 the .'blank feed"control mechanism is illustrated tion of the slits provided in the blanks from which diamond mesh lath, so called, is produced, that is to say, with the slits of each row in symmetrically staggered or break joint relation to the slits of the adjacent row or rows. While the blank for such a beam may be of any cross section desired the blank B, as best shown in Figure 3, is formed with parallel flanges F and a connecting web W.

The operations upon the blank in the order of their performance are heating (optional), slitting and separating the flanges to expand the blank. The apparatus, as illustrated, by which these operations are carried out includes a transfer table 20, auxiliary feed rolls 21, main feed rolls 22, slitting rolls 23, expanding means T and delivery rolls 25. The rolls above enumerated are driven by shafts 26 which are positively driven from a line shaft (not shown) or in any other suitable manner.

The blanks B are directed by the roll-s27 of the transfer table toward the auxiliary feed rolls 21, by guides 28 which are associated with the rolls 2'7 and which are arranged to insure entry of the end of the blank betweenthe rolls 21. As the blank emerges from-the latter its flanges F are engaged by flanges 28 ofspaced guides 29 and the blank is guided toward the main feed rolls 22. As the blank emerges from the main feed rolls 22 it is guided by guides 30' to the slitting rolls 23 which operate upon it to form a central row of slits 31 (see Fig. '7) and marginal rows of slits 32. The said central and marginal rows of slits providestrand portions 33, intermediate bonds 34 and outer bonds 35. Upon emerging from the slitting rolls23 the fianges of the blank enter diverging guideways 360i a spreading table T which guideways, acting upon the said flanges during the forward travel of'the blank, cause an increase in the mutual spacing of the fiangescorresponding to the regular increase in the width of the guideways. 'As the forward end of the blank leaves the spreadingtable, it is engaged by the delivery rolls 25 which pass the blank to the mechanism' which is next to act uponit, as for example, finishing rolls; the blank being guided to such mechanism by suitable guides 37.

In order to insure uniformity in the slitting of the blanks, I employ a feed control mechanism which is adapted to prevent entry of a blank between the slitting rolls until operated and then to release the blank, only at the instant the slitting rolls have reached predetermined angular positions. The said mechanism, as illustrated, is ar-- ranged between the auxiliary feed rolls 21 and the main feed rolls 22. It includes a rock member 38 in the shape of a bell crank, one leg 39 of which is formed at its free end to provide a stop shoulder 40. I I

The said rock member is mounted upon a pin 41 in the housing 42 -oiEthe control mechanism. The housing is suitably supported beneath a bottom plate 44 upon which the guides 29 I are mounted at such a distance therefrom that the stop shoulder 40 at one limit of the range of movement of its arm 39 extends through an opening 43 in the said bottom plate into the path which must be traversed by a blank as it is moved toward the slitting rolls, in which position the web W of the forward end of the blank is engaged by the stop shoulder 40, thereby preventing further forward movement of the blankuntil the stop shoulder hasbeen moved to an inoperative position. 1

In accordance with the invention the stop shoulder 40 is normally held in an operative position, that is to say, to extend into the path traversed by the blanks. To this end, the bell crank 38 is formed with a vertical leg 44 to the free end of which one end or" a spring 45 is connected. The other end of the spring is suitably connected to a channel member 46 of the base frame upon which the housing 42 is mounted. Thus, the spring 45 acting against the free end of the leg 44 serves to normally hold the stop shoulder 40 in a position in which it will engage a blank passing toward the main feed rolls. The extent to which the said shoulder is normal 1y extended through the opening 43 may be regulated by means of the adjusting rod 47 which is also connected to a channel member 46a of the base frame. It will thus be apparent that by virtue of the spring 45 the stop shoulder 40 is normally held to extend above the bottom plate 44 over which the blank slides so as to prevent a blank from entering the main feed rolls 2 2.

In this connection it is to be noted that as the stop shoulder 40 engages theweb W at the forward end of the blank, the latter is arrested in its feeding movement toward the slitting rolls although the auxiliary feed rolls 21 and, in most instances, a number of the rolls 2'7 of the'transfer table are acting upon the blank. The auxiliary feed rolls, therefore, are adjusted to engage the blanks' in such amanner that when a blank is held against forward movement'b'y the stop shoulder 40, they continue to rotatewhile maintaining frictional engagement with the blank. As a precautionary measure, a slip clutch 48 (see Fig. 2) may be interposed between the rolls 21 and the driving means therefor.

Means is provided whereby an operator may ef fect withdrawal of the stop shoulder 40 to an inoperative position in order to permit the blank to resume its forward movement toward the main feed rolls. For this purpose, the leg 44 of the member 38 is formed with a hollow tubular 1ateral extension 49 which is designed to provide a cylinder 50. In this cylinder, a rod 51 is mounted for longitudinal movement. The said rod 51 is formed at one end with a head 52 which is provided beyond the cylinder 50 with aforkshaped extension 53. An operating lever 54 is pivot'ally mounted as at 55 to a side wall of the housing 42 and alaterally extending arm 56 thereof is connected to the head 52 by means of the fork-shaped extension'53 and a pin 57.

, At the end opposite the head 52, the rod 40 is provided with an anti-friction roller 59 and the latter. at one limit of the range of movement of the rod 51 'is projected to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 11. When in this position, the roller 59 is in the path of movement of a cam disk 60 which is mounted upon a shaft 61. Thecam disk 60 is provided with an enlargement 62 which, when it moves against the roller 59, effects a pivotal movement of the member 38 about the pin 41 to lower the arm 39 thereby loweringthe stop shoulder 40. It is to be noted that the contour of the cam disk 60 is such that it engages-the roller 59 only at the enlarged portion 62 of the cam. While the rod 51 may thus be operated by the lever 54 to move the roller 59 in the path of the cam disk 60,

means is provided whereby the roller 59 is normally held out of the path of the said cam disk. As illustrated, this is accomplished by means of a spring 53 which is arranged in the cylinder 50 about the rod 51, the said spring acting against the head 52 and a bushing 64 to. normally hold the roller 59 in the position shown in full lines in Figures 10 and 11.

The rotary movement of the cam 60-i's so controlled that the enlargement 62 of the cam is always in a position corresponding to predetermined angular positions of the slitting rolls-23; While this synchronized movement of the cam disk'and slitting rolls may be eiiected in any desirable manner, for convenience, I prefer to utilize the shaft 67 upon which the slitting rolls are mounted. ihe shaft 67 carries attheopposite end a sprocket 68 which is connected by a-chain 69to a similar sprocket 70 mounted. upon the sha t 61. It will thus be apparent that as the sprockets 88 and 70 are of the same size that the slitting rolls 23 and the cam disk 60 will rotate at the same speed. With this in mind, it also be apparent that the cam disk 60 and the slitting rolls 23 maintain, during their operation, the same relative angular positions. Thus, the

' cam disk 60 may be so adjusted upon the shaft 61 that, assuming the roller 59 has been moved into an operative position, the member 38' will be rocked to lower the shoulder 40 at the instant that the slitting rolls 23 reach predetermined angular positions. As the auxiliary feed rolls 21 and the main feed rolls 22 move the blanks to be slit at a uniform rate the front end or" each blank will require the same length of time to move from the point at which it was held by the stop shoulder 40 to the slitting rolls 23. Thus, as the slitting rolls 23 occupy predetermined angular positions at the instant that each blank is released by the stop shoulder 49, the angular positions of the slitting rolls at the instant they engage the forward end of each blank will always be the same. The angular positions which the said rolls occupy at the in tant they engage the forward end of the blank is determined by theangles through which they rotate during the time from the instant that the blank is released by the stop shoulder 40 until it is engaged by the slitting rolls, this period of time being the same asthe time required for the blank to move from the position in which it is held by the stop shoulder 40 to the slitting rolls. It will, thenibre, be apparent that where the blanks expanded are of uniform length the webs ofthe blanks will be uniformly into 'slitted and non-slitted.

zones. As the arrangement of the slitted and non-slitted zones may be varied a number of different ways, as, for example, by changing the diameters of the slitting rolls, varying the speed of the feed rolls or by changing the distance between the slitting rolls and feed rolls, it will be apparent that the arrangement of the slitted and non-slitted zones may be regulated so that there will be a minimum amount of waste in cutting away the lattice work at the opposite ends of the expanded blank for forming the supporting extensions. The uniform arrangement of the slit-ted and non .itted zones has the further advantage that where blanks of uniform l ngth are employed the expanded load bearing members which are produced from such blanks will also be of uniform length.

In the operation of the apparatus illustrated a blank which may, if desired, be heated is delivered by the transfer table 20 to the auxiliary feed rolls 21 and is moved forward by the latter until the step shoulder 40 of the feed control mechanism engages the front end of the blank by its web. The blank is thereupon brought to ,rest while the auxiliary feed rolls continue to ment62 of the cam disk is not in position-or close l tothe position in which it is intended toeffect release of the blank.- If the cam disk 60 is in the position shown in Figure 14, the roller 59 cannot be moved to the outward limit of its move ment, that-is to say, ina position where-it is in the path of the cam disk. In this event the rollor engages the side face 68 of the enlargement 62.01 the cam. As soon as said enlargement has passed, pressurestill being exerted upon the rod 51 by means or" the handle 58, the rollera59 resumes its outward movement and is positioned in the path travelled by the cam enlargement 62. As the enlargement 62-again approachesthe roller 59, it engages the same thereby rocking the member 38 to lower the stop shoulder 40st0 the position shown in Figure-l4. It will thusbe apparent that although the operator may move the handle 58 in a directionto effect the release of the blank which is engaged at the time, the roller cannot be moved to an operative position unless the enlargement 62 the cam at the time is in a position in its path of travelothenthan that at which the said roller is operated. -v- This, of course, always insures the release of the .engaged blank at a predetermined instant, that is to say, at a time which has been predetermined such that the blank will be fed to and engaged the slitting rolls the instant that theyv'haye reached predetermined angular positions intheir rotary movement. It will be noted that the slight rocking movement which is imparted to theleg; n of the oscillating member38 as the stopshoullder is rendered inoperative will also .betranse.

its forward movement to and is engaged by the main feed rolls 22. ln'this connectionit will be notedthat the interval during which the stop shoulder 40 is held in a lowered position by the cam disk 60 is relatively short and that as soon as the enlargement 62 of said disk has moved beyond the roller 59 the said stop shoulder, under the influence or" the spring 45, will again move upwardly toward its normal position. j At this time, in most instances, the blank which has been released, will not have passed completely over the stop shoulder 40. The latter, therefore, moves upwardly until it comes into contact with the web of the blank which prevents its further upward movement. Thus, the web of the blank slides over the stop shoulder preventing it from succeeding blank. From the slitting rolls the blank is expanded in the expanding guideways 36 and it is then delivered by the rolls 25 to other mechanisms which may be employed, such as,

l for example, finishing rolls. The blank as it leaves the delivery rolls 25 is in its expanded form as'shown in Figure 9.

While the present invention has been described and illustrated in connection with the manufacture of expanded load bearing members, this has been by way of illustration only as the blank feed control mechanism is equally applicable in connection with other equipment where it is desirable that the blank to be operated upon be moved to a mechanism for this purpose so as to be operated upon by the latter at a predetermined time in its operation.

Having fully described my invention, I claim:

1. In apparatus for the manufacture of an expanded load bearing member, the combination with rolls for slitting the blank from which said member is to be formed and means for moving said blank to said slitting rolls, of a feed control mechanism comprising means for arresting said blank as it is moved toward said slitting rolls and manually controlled means for effecting the release of the arrested blank thereby permitting its continued movement toward the slitting rolls, said means last mentioned being adapted to effeet the release of the blank when the slitting rolls are in such angular positions that by the time it enters said slitting rolls they have reached predetermined angular positions.

2. In apparatus for the manufacture of an expanded load bearing member, the combination with rolls for sltting the blank from which said member is to be formed and means for moving said blank to said slitting rolls, of a feed control mechanism comprising means normally extending in the path to be traversed by said blank for arresting the blank as it moves toward said slitmeans last mentioned being adapted to effect.

the release of the blank when the said slitting rolls are in such angular positions that by the time it enters the slitting rolls they have reached predetermined angular positions.

3. In apparatus for the manufacture of an expanded load bearing member, the combination with rolls for slitting the blank from which said member is to be formed and means for moving said blank to said slitting rolls, of a feed control mechanism comprising means extending in the path to be traversed by said blank for arresting the blank as it moves toward said slitting rolls, manually controlled means for Withdrawing said arresting means out of the path of the blank thereby permitting its continued movement toward the slitting rolls, said means last mentioned being adapted to effect the release of the said blank when the said slitting rolls are at such angular positions that by the time it enters the slitting rolls they have reached predetermined angular positions and means for returning said arresting means to an operative position so as to engage the next succeeding blank.

4. In apparatus for the manufacture of an ex-' panded load bearing member, the combination with rolls for slitting the blank from which said member is to be formed and feed means for moving said blank to said slitting rolls, of a feed control mechanism comprising a stop normally extending in the path to be traversed by said blank for arresting the blank as it moves toward said slitting rolls, said feed means continuing to urge said blank toward said slitting rolls after said blank has been arrested, and manually controlled means for moving said stop out of the path of said blank to permit its continued movement toward said slitting rolls, said means last mentioned being adapted to effect the release of said blank when the said slitting rolls are in such angular positions that by the time it enters the slitting rolls they have reached predetermined angular positions.

5. In apparatus for the manufacture of an' expanded load bearing member, the combination with rolls for slitting the blank from which said member is to be formed and feed means for moving said blank to said slitting rolls, of a feed control mechanism comprising a rock member provided with a stop which normally extends in the path to be traversed by said blank for arresting the blank as it moves toward said slitting rolls and manually controlled means for rocking said rock member to withdraw said stop out of the path of said blank and thereby permit its continued movement toward said slitting rolls, said means being adapted to effect the release of the blank when the said slitting rolls are in such angular positions that by the time it enters the slitting rolls they will have reached predetermined angular positions.

6. In apparatus for the manufacture of an expanded load bearing member, the combination with rolls for slitting the blank from which said member is to be formed-and feed rolls for moving said blank to said slitting rolls, of a feed control mechanism comprising a rock member provided with a stop which normally extends into the path to be traversed by said blank for arresting the blank as it moves toward said slitting rolls, a cam for rocking said rock member for withdrawing said stop from said path to release said blank and thereby permit its continued movement toward said slitting rolls and manually controlled means for enabling said cam to rock said rock membensaid cam being designed to effeet the release of said blank when the said slitting rolls are in such angular positions that by the time it enters the slitting rolls they have reached predetermined angular positions.

7. In apparatus for the manufacture of an expanded load bearingmember, the combination with rolls for slitting the blank from which said member is to be formed and feed rolls for moving said blank to said slitting rolls, of a feed control mechanism comprising a rock member provided with a stop which normally extends in the path to be traversed by said blank for arresting the blank as it moves toward said slitting rolls, a cam for rocking said rock member for withdrawing said stop from said path to release said blank and thereby permit its continued movement toward said slitting rolls, means for driving said cam from said slitting rolls and manually controlled means for enabling said cam to rock said rock member, said cam being designed to eifect the release of said blank when said slitting rolls are in such angular positions that by the time it enters the slitting rolls they-have reached predetermined angular positions.

8. In apparatus for operating upon a blank, the combination with rolls for slitting the blank and means for moving said blank to said slitting rolls, of a feed control mechanism comprising means for arresting said blank as it is moved toward said slitting rolls and manually controlled means for effecting the release of the blank thereby permitting its continued movement toward the slitting rolls, said last mentioned means being adapted to efiect the release of the blank at a time such that when the blank enters the slitting rolls the latter have reached predetermined angular positions.

9. In apparatus for operating upon a blank, the combination with rolls for slitting the blank and means for moving said blank to said slitting rolls, of a feed control mechanism including a rock member provided with a stop which normally projects into the paths to be traversed by said blank for arresting the latter as it is moved toward said slitting rolls, a cam driven in timed relation with said slitting rolls and manually controlled means co-operating with said cam for effecting the release of said blank at a time such that when the blank enters the slitting rolls the latter have reached predetermined angular positions.

10. In apparatus for operating upon a blank, the combination with rolls for slitting the blank and means for moving said blank to said slitting rolls, of a feed control mechanism including a rock member provided with a stop which normally projects into the path to be traversed by said blanks for arrestin the latter as it is moved toward said slitting rolls, a cam driven in timed relation with said slitting rolls, an element carried by said rock member and means for moving said element to a position in which it co-operates with said cam to move said stop out of engagement with said blank at a time such that when the blank enters the slitting rolls the latter have reached predetermined angular positions.

11. In apparatus for operating upon a blank, the combination with rolls for slitting the blank, main feed rolls for moving said blank to said slitting rolls and auxiliary feed rolls for moving said blank to said main feed rolls, of a feed control mechanism including a rocker provided with a stop, means for normally maintaining said stop in the path to be traversed by'said blank, a cam for rocking said rocker and normally disengaged therewith, means associated with said slitting rolls for rotating said cam, and manually operated means carried by said rocker for operatively connecting said cam and said rocker for enabling movement of said rocker to render said stop inoperative and thereby electively release said blank and permit its continued movement by said auxiliary feed rolls to said main feed rolls by which it is moved tosaid slitting rolls, said manually controlled stop being adapted to effect the release of the blank when the slitting rolls are in such angular position that by the time it reaches the slitting rolls they will have reached predetermined angular positions.

HARRY A. KESSLER. 

